The Journal says it is nearly three weeks since the Black Cats agreed a £2.5m fee for the 19-year-old, and many took the delay in completing a deal as a sign that somebody had got cold feet. But sources at his current club, Panathinaikos, are expecting movement.

Should the transfer go through, it will take Sunderland’s tally of summer signings into double figures.

The delay has been blamed on a change of medical staff at the Stadium of Light which held up the processing of Mavrias’ records.